Baker’s Strong 2013 Inglis Classic Duo

The now Sydney-based Kiwi expat Bjorn Baker may not have been able to back up his Inglis Nursery stakes winner Twilight Royale in this Saturday’s Inglis Classic 2013 but he will still be well represented in the Rosehill feature with two smart juveniles.

Testa Rossa filly Twilight Royale won the Inglis Nursery on debut at Warwick Farm last month but isn’t eligible for Saturday’s $250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) having been purchased at the Melbourne premier Yearling Sales.

Still Baker believes he can score another big pay day in the restricted classic having nominated for both Alert gelding Awarewolf and Fuerza.

“Twilight Royale isn’t eligible for the race but I will take two very strong hopes into it,” Baker, who set up in Sydney just 18 months ago, said.

“I have worked hard to find the right two-year-olds, and that shows I can do it with different sorts of horses.

“Financially, it makes a big difference winning those (races like the Inglis) worth a bit of money.”

Of the pair it is up-and-coming Snippetson colt Fuerza who Baker rates as his best chance after their close second on debut to their stablemate in the Inglis Nursery.

“Fuerza is the form horse going to Rosehill on what he did on debut in the Nursery,” Baker said.

“He is a very relaxed horse, so I’m going to put the blinkers on him.”

While Awarewolf’s form hasn’t been quite as impressive, the horse last seen running second to Torio Magic over 900m at Queanbeyan on December 23, Baker will also add blinkers to their gear on Saturday looking to sharpen them up.

“I will also have Awarewolf in the race, which won a Rosehill trial last week,” Baker said speaking of the bargain $10,000 buy.

“He has had the two starts. He didn’t do that much at Kembla on debut (when seventh to Northern Glory over 1000m) but should have won at Queanbeyan when run off the track.

“He went to the trials and won since and is learning all the time. He could be a smoky, and I have the blinkers on him as well.”

They go into Saturday’s race on the back of another second this time in a 900m Rosehill trial from January 8 and Baker is expecting to see improvement as they go up to the 1200m.